Enjoy Today!
Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving.
Diane, my mother-in-law told me her Grammy who lost her daughter in a tragic circumstance, suffered with depression. I wouldn’t have guessed her life had such sorrow woven in it. When I first met her she was celebrating her 70th wedding anniversary. This wise grandmother and great-grandmother shared a tactic for overcoming depression. She said to go outside, where people are, and take the world around in.
Yesterday, I had news on my mother’s cancer, I was at the supermarket and a little child began to chat with my Jacy. He was 1 1/2 years old bright eyes and newly able to chat it up with those around him. I couldn’t help but smile. It reminded me of how important it is to enjoy our days. When my son Jonah was in the hospital having tests for seizures we would make plans for fun, not fear and go for his favorite pizza, skip down the hospital halls, whatever enjoyment we could do in the “whale hospital” (as he called it) we did it. Thankfully our life moved forward beyond that difficult time. Enjoyment is not found in the absence of difficulty or trial, it is found in the presence of God. God with you.
“I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work, long before he made anything else. I was created in the very beginning, even before the world began. I was born before there were oceans, or springs overflowing with water, before the hills were there, before the mountains were put in place. God had not made the earth or fields, not even the first dust of the earth. I was there when God put the skies in place, when he stretched the horizon over the oceans, when he made the clouds above and put the deep underground springs in place. I was there when he ordered the sea not to go beyond the borders he had set. I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation. I was like a child by his side. I was delighted every day, enjoying his presence all the time, enjoying the whole world, and delighted with all its people. “Now, my children, listen to me, because those who follow my ways are happy. (Proverbs 8:22-32 NCV)
Enjoy God’s Presence! Enjoy God’s world, and all it’s people. Wisdom is thick as thieves with enjoyment, listen to her. See the delight God intends for all the living. He made life an adventure for all. Yes, the world awaits you and I! And let’s explore it with the designer’s good instructions and company. The word of God instructs us enjoyment is God’s way of keeping us occupied. What a wonderful creator- “occupied by joy” in us with us.
…God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. Ecclesiastes 5:20 (ESV)
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24, 25 ESV)
Have you ever loved a day so much, laughed hard, smiled until your cheeks hurt? I was a part of “Salt Fall Retreat” this year and had one of those days with Cheryl where we had done so much smiling our faces hurt. God was abundantly there and we had the happiness to prove it. Enjoyment comes from God.
Do you want to live and enjoy a long life? Then don’t say cruel things and don’t tell lies. Do good instead of evil and try to live at peace. (Psalms 34:12-14 CEVUK00)Enjoyment also comes when we saying no to evil and cruelty. Enjoyment is found when good intentions become good plans fulfilled.
Light is sweet. People enjoy being out in the sun. No matter how many years a man might live, let him enjoy all of them. (Ecclesiastes 11:7 NIRV)
God’s wisdom made all delight. His creative wonder surpasses all human design. His breath was the life force to our innate ability to enjoy anything. Adam and Eve are filled with delight and goodness by a breath. The capacity of God to enjoy his work had full expression in one simple word – good. Let His word give light to your life today, God wants you to enjoy, your food, your children, your parents, your friends, yes even the sun that warms your face. Inhale the life God has given us.
God, your love is so precious! You protect people in the shadow of your wings. They eat the rich food in your house, and you let them drink from your river of pleasure. You are the giver of life. Your light lets us enjoy life. (Psalms 36:7-9 NCV)
Enjoy today!
